The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander William C. Specht, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during World War II. By keen initiative, untiring effort and outstanding skill, Commander Specht was largely instrumental in establishing the Torpedo Boat Training Center at Melville, Rhode Island. In addition, he was personally responsible for many valuable improvements in torpedo boat design as well as for adoption of new torpedo launching gear.